BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes today leapt to the defence of Bolton Wanderers by insisting Sam Allardyce's team are not the ugly side some pundits are painting them out to be.

Wanderers chief Allardyce took the dramatic step of banning BBC Radio Five Live from the Reebok last week after one of their commentators, Alan Green, launched a stinging attack on the club, in which he criticised Bolton's abrasive style.

Green branded Wanderers as ugly' and went as far as to say he would never pay to watch them play while he was commentating on their recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool, comments which infuriated several angry Trotters fans who chose to confront him in the press box during the half-time interval at the game.

Now Allardyce is boycotting the station in protest at Green's remarks and Hughes feels his Bolton counterpart is right to take such a tough stance, particularly as he felt similarly aggrieved when Rovers were unfairly labelled the Premiership's bully boys' last season on the back of their infamous battle with Chelsea.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Lancashire derby with Wanderers at Ewood Park, the Rovers chief said: "Bolton get criticised and wrongly, in my view.

"I wouldn't describe them as ugly. They've got players in the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and El Hadji Diouf, who, in one versus one situations, are talented players, so they're not ugly.

"They know what they're good at, they are obviously well drilled and well organised, and you can't knock any team for that.

"We pride ourselves on being well organised and the fact the players know exactly what jobs are required of them.

"They also pick the right players and target the right players for the roles they have in the team, and that's good management in my book."

While Bolton's image has clearly been tarnished by Green's controversial outburst, Rovers now appear to be winning over their own detractors thanks to some impressive performances in the first half of the season.

By bringing in players like Craig Bellamy and David Bentley, Hughes has successfully married craft to the graft that enabled Rovers to banish any thoughts of relegation during the second half of last season, so much so that Blackburn are now being talked about as possible contenders for a European spot, along with Wanderers.

"Both sides have been given unfair labels in my view," continued Hughes.

"We've been trying to change peoples' minds for a while and I think we have done now.

"The people who have seen us on a more regular basis have liked what they've seen and they know that we are a team that likes to play, and that's all you can do.

"You've got to try to play well and win football matches. That's what we've done of late, and that's what Bolton have been doing for quite some time."

Should Rovers win tomorrow, they will leapfrog Wanderers and climb to seventh position in the table, their highest placing since Hughes took charge of team affairs 15 months ago.

But regardless of who, ultimately, finishes above the other come May 7, Hughes believes the fact that both clubs are in with a chance of finishing in the European places is a major achievement in itself when you consider the size of some of their big city rivals.

"We are successful in our own right," Hughes added.

"We haven't got a massive fan base, but I think we are punching above our weight. In fact, I think both clubs are."